It was a transfer window of mixed emotions, players left and replacements came in, but amazingly it leaves Hull City with a talented squad.

All of sudden, despite so many high profile players leaving, Leonid Slutsky has enough of a squad to have something of a selection headache. He is now faced with the difficult decision of dropping somebody who may not deserve it, in order to play what he feels is his best XI in his preferred formation.

So now that he has quality players in all areas of the field, what can be considered City’s finest lineup, and how will they set up?

I expect Slutsky to revert back to the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served him well throughout his career so far. He has dabbled with different systems, he started with a simple 4-4-2 when he had two fit strikers to play, before moving to a 3-4-3, to play with width against QPR and Bolton Wanderers.

But now he has the players to do so, I expect to see the Tigers line up in a 4-2-3-1, with an attacking midfielder playing behind the striker, especially on Friday night against Derby County, a formation that could be considered safe away from home.

As it stands I think Allan McGregor has the number one shirt nailed down. David Marshall is fit again but while McGregor remains in good form it would be wrong to drop him.

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Should mistakes begin to creep into his game again, perhaps then I would consider a change, but until then dropping him makes little sense.

For me the defence remains the same to what it has been for the most part this season so far. A centre partnership of Michael Dawson and Michael Hector continues to flourish and I see no reason why that should change.

In my opinion, Hector is the signing of the summer, he’s young, he’s talented and he complement’s Dawson’s game well. All the while the Chelsea loanee has Dawson’s experience to call upon, he will continue to improve as a player.

Flanking them is Ola Aina, obviously, while somewhat controversially I would stick with Max Clark over Stephen Kingsley who has arrived from Swansea City.

Max Clark of Hull City puts a cross against Burton Albion (Image: Focus)

Clark has done a terrific job at left-back this campaign so far and as it stands I think he deserves to keep his place in the side.

In midfield, I think Slutsky will go with the experienced duo of Seb Larsson and David Meyler. Both players have the ability to get up the pitch, while the other sits deeper and together I think they can offer that steel City need in the middle.

David Meyler (Image: Focus)

I believe the spine of a team needs to be rich in experience and with McGregor, Dawson, Meyler and Larsson they have a core who have been there and done it.

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Ahead of that pairing I would pick Jon Toral. The Spaniard has a solid record at Championship level and after coming through Barcelona and Arsenal’s academy, you know what sort of player you’re going to get.

At this stage the wingers pick themselves. Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki have been in sensational form this season and together they can lead City up the table, my only issue would be if the Tigers can keep hold of the pair of them in January.

Leading the line will be Nouha Dicko I think. From the little bits of his career I’ve seen, he looks strong, sharp and has an eye for goal. With the wingers tucking in behind to give him support, he should cope as a lone striker and has the potential to be a 15/20 goal a season striker City crave.